Method and apparatus for transferring volatile liquids



Oct. 6, 1936. 2,056,828

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING VOLATILE LIQUIDS M. E. cLAwsoNFiled May 1 HIIHHIH I INVENTOR Mfl/ardL-ilaws fl -BY 7% f ATTOR:EY

Patented Oct. 6, 1936 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANS- FERRJNG YOLATILELIQUIDS Millard E. Clawson, Ponca City, Okla., assignor to ContinentalOil Company, Ponca City,

Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application May 1, 1935, Serial No.19,242

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a method and apparatus fortransferring volatileliquids and more particularly to a method and apparatus for transferringgasoline and light volatile hydrocarbons in a closed system where lossis prevented by transferring both the liquids and gas concurrently fromone container to another.

In transferring volatile liquids from one container to another such asin loading gasoline from bulk storage to tank vehicles, the problem ofvapor loss from the tank being filled is a serious one. For example, ataverage atmospheric temperature and pressure, pumping gasoline from onecontainer to another entails considerable vaporization of lightfractions which are not readsorbed into the gasoline. If a tank ispartly full, gasoline vapors in proportionto the vapor pressure of thegasoline will fill the space above the liquid. If the vapor spacecontains 100 percent of gasoline vapors, ordinarily 27 cubic feet ofthis vapor can be, condensed to form one gallon of liquid. For example,if a 3,000-gal1on tank trucker veh-lcle were filled with gasolinevapors, these vapors could be condensed to form approximately 40 gallonsof gasoline. It will readily be appreciated that a considerable losswould be entailed ii the vapors from an 80,00p-barrel tank were lost. Itis now general practice to exhaust vapors to the air when filling a tankand to allow air to be drawn in to occupy the space formerly takenb'y'the liquid when emptying a tank. When air is drawn into a tank byemptying, there must be a further vaporization of light gasolineforestablishlng a vapor pressure equilibrium. By avoiding contact of airwith the volatile liquid during transfer from one container to another,savings in liquid volumes are obtained.-

One object of my invention is to provide a method whereby vapor loss intransferring vola- In the accompanying drawing which forms part of theinstant specification and is to be read in "conjunction therewith and inwhich like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in thevarious views;

Flgin'e 1 is an elevation with parts broken away, showing one mode ofapparatus embodying the will apparatus and capable of carrying out theprocess of my invention. 7 Figure 2 is a sectional view of a fittingshown in Figure l. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a modification. p

In general, my invention contemplates the provision ofintercommunicating means between the vapor spaces of two containers andintercommunicating means between the liquid spaces of the samecontainers. The procedure is such that, while liquid is .beingtransferred from one container to another, vapor is being transferred inthe opposite direction of the flow of liquid.

More particularly referring now to the draw-- ing, gasoline or a similarvolatile liquid is stored in bulk in tank I. Tank 2 represents the tankof a tank truck into which gasoline .or a similar volatile liquid frombulk storage tank I is to be passed or from'which liquid is to be pumpedinto storage tank I. In the form of the invention shown, a diaphragm 3is permanently fitted to the tank 2. The diaphragm is provided with atubularwprojection 4 and a depressed portion having an inclined wall 5which is fitted with a gauge glass 6. The up n r portion of the tubularprojection or nipple 4 is threaded and adapted to threadedly receiveconnecting member 8. A suitable gasket 1 is provided between the upperend of nipple 4 and a seat portion formed internally of the connectingmember 8 to form a tight joint therebetween. A casting 9 is seated upona gasket l0 provided in the connecting member 8. The casting 9 isprovided with three openings II, V I2, and I3. A nipple I4 is adapted tobe threadedly secured in communication with opening II. An elbow I5 isadapted to be threadedly positioned in opening l2. A nipple I 6 isthreaded in elbow I5. A flexible conduit I! is secured to nipple I4 anda fieinble conduit I8 is secured to nipple I6. The connecting member 8may be rotated by means of a wrenchlike member is which is detachablysecured in any suitable manner thereto so that the assembly can bequickly placed in position on nipple 4. A pipe, 20 is threadedly securedat the end of bore- II. The pipe 20 is of smaller diameter than the boreI3 as can readily be-seen by reference to Figure 2. A pipe 2| is 50secured to pipe '20. Pipe 2I may be made with its upper portion taperedand supported by diaphragm gasket I, permanently in the tank. Openings22 are provided in the diaphragm I for the passage of vapors into boreI3. The lower 55 from tank 2 to tank I.

end of pipe 2I extends to the bottom of the tank 2. Flexible conduit I1.is in communication at its other end with pipe 23 which is incommunication with pipe 24 through adjustablejoint25. A suitable valve25 is provided in pipe 24. One

end of pipe 24 communicates with the dischargeend25" of a pump 26 whichis driven by a suitable motor 21. Pump 26 takes suction from tank Ithrough pipe 28 .which is controlled by valve 29. In the assembly shown,the tank 2 is being filled from tank I. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that by reversing the pump connections, gasoline or likevolatile liquid may be pumped Flexible conduit l8 communicates with pipe30 which is provided with a valve 3|. The other end of pipe 30communicates with pipe 32 through movable joint 33s A second check valve34 is provided in line 32, the end of line 32 communicating with thevapor space of tank I.

In the form shown in Figure 4, inclined wall 5 is provided with a pairof ducts or pipes 35 and 36, which carry the usual gauge glassconnections 31 and 38, between which a gauge glass 39 is fitted.

In operation, it being assumed that the method of the instant inventionhas been in use, tank 2 being empty of liquid gasoline but containinggasoline vapors, the assembly described is fitted to the nipple 4. Infitting the assembly to the nipple, the connecting member 8 may berotated by hand, wrench I9 supporting the assembly and permitting motiontherebetween. When the connecting member 8 is hand tight, it may befinally secured by rotating wrench III which will secure the connectingmember 8, rotating it through any suitable detachable connecting means,as for example a key and slot. The assembly in place,

it will be observed that conduit I8 is in communication with the vaporspace of tank 2 through nipple I6, elbow I5, bore I3, openings 22, andthe bore of nipple 4 which communicates with the of said ducts with alower portion of said reservoir vapor space. It will also be observedthat conduit I8 is in communication with the vapor space of tank Ithrough pipes 30 and 32. Likewise, the

liquid containing or lower portion of tank 2 is in communication withasimilar portion of tank I through pipe 2|, pipe 20, bore II, ductI'I,pipe 23, pipe 24, pump 26, and pipe 28. The valves 25' and 29 areopened and the pump is started. Gasoline or like volatile liquids, asfor example, volatile hydrocarbons, will flow from tank I through pipe28 and be pumped by pump 26 through pipe 24, pipe 23, conduit II, thenceinto the tank 2. As the gasoline passes into tank 2, vapors presenttherein and such gasoline as may be vaporized by passing into a tank oflesser vapor pressure than exists in tank I, will rise and pass throughopenings 22 into bore I 3 which communicates with conduit I8. The vaporspass through check valve 3| when the pressure within the tank 22 exceedsthat in tank I. After passing through check valve 3|, the vapors passthrough pipe 32, check valve 34, and thence into the vapor space of tankI.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of 'my invention.The vapors which are normally lost in filling a tank are conserved bybeing returned to the source of supply. Furthermore, air is kept frombeing drawn into the storage tank. Such gasoline laden air as might beupper portion of said tank and the upperporpresent in the truck tank ispassed into the storage tank, thus saving gasoline. Furthermore, thelight, volatile ends are those which are desirable in gasoline for easeof starting, especially in cold weather. the present method of handlingit, a large percentage of these light ends will be lost. This not 1 onlyrepresents a loss in gasoline but reduces the quality of the remaininggasoline.

It will be observed that the invention is not to be limited to handlinggasoline but is applicable to any volatile liquid. If desired, acondenser may be fitted in the vapor line 32 for condensing the vaporsbefore they are passed into tank I.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of myclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of my claims without departing from the spiritof my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. Ina liquid transferring system, a supply reservoir, a receiving tank,a filling connection for said receiving tank, a conduit positionedwithin said filling connection and spaced therefrom to provide apassageway, said conduit extending to a point in proximity to the bottomof said tank, said passageway communicating with the upper portion ofthe interior of said tank, a fitting pro-- vided with two ducts, meansfor detachably connecting said fitting to said filling connection withsaid ducts in respective communication with said conduit and saidpassageway, a pipe providing access between the duct communicating withsaid passageway and the supply reservoir above the liquid level therein,a pipe connecting the other tion of the reservoir, a pipe connecting theother of said passageways with the lower portion of said reservoir, anda pump interposed in said pipe. I Y

3. In a liquid transferring system as in claim 1 wherein said fillingconnection is provided with a recessed portion extending into the tank,a part of one wall of said recessed portion being formed of transparentmaterial.

- 4. In a liquid transferring system as in claim 1 wherein said fillingconnection is provided with a recessed portion extending into said tankand a gauge glass fitted exteriorly of one wall of said recessedportion.

. MILLARD E. CLAWSON.

If gasoline is handled repeatedly, in 5

